Uganda at 52: Interesting quotes of Ugandan presidents

Oct 09, 2014

Uganda has had nine presidents since independence. These are some of the quotes delivered during their speeches

 Uganda has had nine presidents since independence. These are some of the quotes delivered during their speeches

 

I shall not be deterred by people who don’t see where the future of Africa lies. It is the short-sighted people who put their opinions in writing. They don’t understand that the future of all countries lies in processing,” Museveni said, while defending the allocation of Mabira Forest to Madhvani’s sugar  company in 2007


“If we could export more fi nished products instead of raw materials, we could become a middle-income country,” Museveni said on economic growth during the Common Wealth Heads of Government meeting  on November 25, 2007.
 

“Exhibitionism of homosexual behavior must be punished because in this part of the world, it is forbidden to publicly exhibit any sexual conduct (kissing, etc) even for heterosexuals.
If I kissed my wife in public, I would lose elections in Uganda,” Museveni said on homosexuality.
 

“There is tremendous potential in Africa. Africa is a continent of the future. Just like India and China have become super powers, in the next 25 years, a lot of changes will have taken place here,” said Museveni, while addressing Indians in Kampala, Sunday Vision, July 1, 2007


“The AIDS virus is easy to control. It depends on personal responsibility.
There is an urgent need to control loose sex,” Museveni said at Namirembe Cathedral in 1993.


“For the young people, the idea of okuroza (tasting) is very dangerous. If you do not keep your virginity, there will be permanent mistrust. The youth must wait till they find a partner they trust. If you don’t, you will drown in search of temporary pleasure. I don’t believe in these things that when you see someone you faint because of love,” New Vision July, 2004
 

“When the People of Buganda made a wrong choice of forging an alliance with the UPC, the unfortunate consequence was the 1966 crisis,” Museveni at s rally in Mukono, 2010


You voted cleanly, that’s why I brought Kaunda

There is a place in the Uganda of today for all who have her interests at heart, whatever their tribe, race or creed.” Milton Obote’s 1962 Uganda Independence Speech
 

“In the days before this part of the African continent was known to the western world, we became known as a group of peoples who welcomed the traveller, the missionary and the explorer. As the years passed, we reaped the benefi t of this friendly nature of ours.” Obote during his fi rst inaugural speech as prime minister of Uganda October 9, 1962
 

“Let there be no weeds in Gulu. You voted cleanly. And today because of that cleanness, I have brought a clean leader. If this district was dirty, I would never have dreamt of bringing Dr. Kaunda to Gulu,” Obote during the Apollo Milton Obote Gulu 1984 speech to thank Gulu for voting him overwhelmingly during the 1980 general elections.
 

“There was jubilation in some parts of Uganda. They joined hands with Idi Amin that UPC had been overthrown. Do we need to be told what have happened since then? We have the widows among us. We have the orphans among. We have destruction on schools and hospital. We have no water supplies. That was the result of that coup,” speaking in 1984 in Gulu during President Kaunda State visit to Uganda.
 

“Look at our symbol. Five fingers. The catholic is there. Protestants are there.
Women are there. Youth are there.
Men are there. We work together like the five fingers,” during the 1984 speech in Gulu in praise for his party UPC.
 

“While I admit that government must be controlled by the people, I must also urge the people of Uganda that for their own good it would be wrong to allow other institutions to be controlled by the people,” Obote during the 1969 speech, three years after Uganda was declared a republican government and cultural institutions and been banned.

With Obote’s support, we got what we wanted – Mutesa

“The talks were successful for us. With Obote’s support we obtained a great deal of what we wanted.” Mutesa wrote after a Constitutional meeting held in London 1962.


“I had feared that something like an attack would happen but I was not ready for the magnitude of destruction that they meted out.” Mutesa wrote after the attack by Obote’s government of the Lubiiri


“Members of Kabaka Yekka in the National Assembly were crossing in dribs and drabs to UPC, lured by the chance of office. ” Mutesa commented after the marriage between UPC and KY started collapsing.


After Cohen threatened Mutesa who was advocating for an Independent Buganda from Uganda that, “If you don’t agree, you will have to go,” Mutesa responded, “If anyone has to go, it will certainly be you (Cohen).”


I am not a politician, but a man of action, says Amin

Some people dream what is not truth. Dreaming has been true to my side. I dreamt when I was nothing that I would be a commander of Ugandan army. I dreamt that I would be the head of state when I was just none,” Amin about his dreams.
 

“The black people must be the president of America. A black person must be the secretary of state. They (black people) are more brilliant than Kissinger. He always to go weakest leaders. They do not go Gadafi. He never comes to Idi Amin. He fears us,” Amin on former Secretary of State during President Richard Nixon reign (1969-1974), Henry Kissinger.
 

“In communist countries you do not feel free to talk, there is one spy for every three people.
Not here. No one is afraid here. It’s like Uganda girls. I tell them to be proud, not shy.
It’s no good taking a girl to bed if she is shy. Do you get my point?”
 

“Ugandan women should not carry on with white men. Black men are stronger than whites. This is why white girls run after black men.” Amin on relationships between blacks and whites.
 

“My dear brother, it is quite true that you have enough problems on your plate and it is surprising you have the zeal to add fresh ones. At this moment, you are uncomfortably sandwiched in that uncomfortable affair (Watergate), I ask almighty God to solve your problems. We Ugandans hope that the great United States of America does not continue to use its enormous resources, especially its military might, to destroy human life on earth,” Amin after President Richard Nixon cut US aid to Uganda.
 

“Women should not sleep while men are working. Even prostitutes can do some work, reporting subversives.”
 

“Your experience will be a lesson to all of us men to be careful not to marry ladies in high positions,” Amin to Lord Snowdon after his split with Princess Margaret of England in 1976 after being in marriage for 16 years.
 

“Arab victory in the war with Israel is inevitable and the prime minister of Israel, Mrs Golda Meir’s only recourse is to tuck up her knickers and run away in the direction of New York and Washington,” Amin speaking about Middle East affairs
 

“Don’t disturb the people of Uganda at night by running about shooting. Uganda is going at supersonic speed and the people must not unnecessarily be made to panic,” Amin before his fall in 1979.
 

“I do not want to be controlled by any superpower. I myself consider myself the most powerful figure in the world, and that is why I do not let any superpower control me.”

 

“Sometimes people mistake the way I talk for what I am thinking. I never had any formal education – not even nursery school certificate. But, sometimes I know more than PhD holders because as a military man, I know how to act. I am a man of action.”
 

Entebbe ewooma, said Binaisa

Entebbe ewoma”, literary meaning “the seat is sweet,” Binaisa made the statement.
 

“It’s as dead as a doornail.  Killed by Edward Mutesa: When he demanded those arms from the British Government unconstitutionally and in that way he killed it,” Binaisa said.
 

“All you have to do right now,” he laughed, “Is to bury your dead child as decently as possible. These things do happen you know; we must learn to accept them,” Binaisa told Obote when he consulted him on whether to abrogate the 1962 Constitution in a bid to fire Mutesa.
 

“Amin called me to his office,” said Binaisa. “There he was, sitting in his big chair, looking at me straight in the eye and speaking his broken English, which left a lot to be desired. He said I was a Zionist and he would have me arrested and shot in public as a traitor. I was scared stiff.
 

I knew Amin wasn’t the sort of chap who minced his words. I protested my innocence, but he just grinned and said, ‘I have told you what I think,” Binaisa.”

Compiled by John Semakula and John Masaba

  

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